Chester, Pa. – Philadelphia Union defender Sheanon Williams has been added to the U-23 U.S. Men’s National Team for the upcoming CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
Williams, who was previously in camp with the U-23 squad in the offseason, replaces Molde-based defender Josh Gatt who was recalled by his club after the team experienced a series of injuries. Williams will travel to Nashville, Tenn. tomorrow morning to prepare for the team’s first game against Cuba on March 22.
Williams joins Union teammates Freddy Adu and Amobi Okugo who have been in camp since March 13. The trio will miss this weekend’s Union game at Chicago and could miss the match against Vancouver on March 31, should the U-23 team advance to the semi-final round.
U.S. Soccer also announced that Head Coach Caleb Porter has selected Adu as captain. Adu, 22, is the only player on the current U-23 roster with previous experience in qualifying, having scored four goals in three appearances during the 2008 tournament. Currently in his second season with Philadelphia, Adu has been involved with the U.S. National Team on a variety of levels, including 17 appearances for the senior squad.
The team begins its quest for Olympic qualifying this week, when the squad faces off against Cuba on March 22 at 9:00 p.m. EST in Nashville, Tenn. The team will then take on Canada on March 24 and El Salvador on March 26. The semifinal and final matches will be played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., on March 31 and April 2, respectively.
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